For the first time in four years, dreidel sales are up. Dreidel manufacturer Avi Marom told Yediot Acharonot that sales of the long-time favorite Chanukah top have increased by 12% over last year. Among his more interesting orders was one for 2,500 dreidels for the Jewish soldiers serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq. Although most of the dreidels sold in Israel are made in China and India, they are filled with kosher made-in-Israel candies.
Chanukah donuts continue to be a best-seller. Known in Israel as sufganiyot, 80% of Israelis are reported to partake in some 6-7 of the holeless-donuts during the eight-day holiday. The most popular filling continues to be jelly, followed by butterscotch and chocolate.
The eight-day Chanukah holiday begins tonight, with the lighting of one Chanukah candle in addition to the Sabbath candles. An additional candle is lit each night thereafter, culminating with eight on the last night. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, in 164 BCE and the re-establishment of Jewish religious freedom and supremacy over harsh repression and Hellenist assimilationism. Two Divine miracles in particular are remembered on Chanukah: the burning of the lone flask of kosher oil for eight full days in the Temple, and the victory of the "few against the many" in the Maccabees' revolt against the Syrian-Greeks.
The Gesher organization, which works on behalf of religious-secular dialogue and understanding, has found that fully 92% of Israelis polled say they will or are likely to light Chanukah candles this year.
Chanukah donuts continue to be a best-seller. Known in Israel as sufganiyot, 80% of Israelis are reported to partake in some 6-7 of the holeless-donuts during the eight-day holiday. The most popular filling continues to be jelly, followed by butterscotch and chocolate.
The eight-day Chanukah holiday begins tonight, with the lighting of one Chanukah candle in addition to the Sabbath candles. An additional candle is lit each night thereafter, culminating with eight on the last night. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, in 164 BCE and the re-establishment of Jewish religious freedom and supremacy over harsh repression and Hellenist assimilationism. Two Divine miracles in particular are remembered on Chanukah: the burning of the lone flask of kosher oil for eight full days in the Temple, and the victory of the "few against the many" in the Maccabees' revolt against the Syrian-Greeks.
The Gesher organization, which works on behalf of religious-secular dialogue and understanding, has found that fully 92% of Israelis polled say they will or are likely to light Chanukah candles this year.